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Alabama Football: LSU weekend is big for Tide Recruiting

By Ronald Evans

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide walks through the tunnel before taking on the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide walks through the tunnel before taking on the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Almost as big as the actual LSU game is the important recruiting weekend for Alabama football. Check out the latest on recruits in T-Town.

The LSU game is the last big home weekend for Alabama football. The visiting recruit list is filled with top names. Flips are possible. Commitments are expected.

Alabama football is currently ranked No. 16 in 247Sports 2018 Team Rankings. The Tide has 12 commits. None of the teams ranked above Alabama football have fewer than 15 commits. Six of the higher ranked teams have 20 or more commits.

Fan consternation about the Tide’s low ranking is understandable but unnecessary. Alabama will finish near the top five in 2018 classes. In a small class of only 22 or 23 slots, that will be a very good result. The real story of Nick Saban’s recruiting will likely become how many top recruits the Tide will be forced to turn away.

The visitor numbers are so high for the LSU weekend, we will focus only on 2018 recruits. Below is a rundown of the top names that will be in Tuscaloosa this weekend and updates on a couple of recruits not visiting this weekend.

Quarterbacks

  •  Emory Jones – Dual-threat QB; 4-Star; No. 3 QB and No. 36 Overall
    Jones is committed to Ohio State but most recruiting insiders now predict he will flip to the Tide. He visited Ohio State last weekend and shortly afterward, the Buckeyes gave a new offer to Jarren Williams. Williams is committed to Kentucky but he and Jones have been top targets for the Tide for months.
  • Tanner McKee – Pro-style QB; 4-Star; No. 2 QB and No. 20 Overall
    McKee will take two seasons away from football after high school for a church mission.

Running Backs

  • Jerome Ford – APB; 3-Star; No. 24 APB
    Alabama football coaches have Ford defined as a current take. If running back target Asa Martin flips from Auburn before Ford makes a Tide commitment, the current open slot may not be available.

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

  • Jaylen Waddle – WR; 4-Star; No. 11 WR and No. 67 Overall
    Tide coaches want Waddle as a slot receiver and insiders believe he’s the Tide’s top priority receiver.  The Texas player is also a high priority for Texas A&M. Waddle is making an Official Visit this weekend.
  • Justyn Ross – WR; 4-Star; No. 8 WR and No. 47 Overall
    Ross is the top recruit in the state of Alabama. Currently, the battle for his signature is between the Tide, Auburn, FSU and Clemson. Some insiders believe Clemson leads for Ross.
  • Jacob Copeland – WR; 4-Star; No. 4 WR and No. 45 Overall
    Copeland is a Florida commit. The latest news on Copeland is the Tide could flip him soon.
  • Dominick Wood-Anderson – TE; 3-Star;  No. 1 TE and No. 16 Overall (JUCO)
    Wood-Anderson is not visiting this weekend. He de-committed from Texas (Oct. 23rd) and the Tide appeared to be his leader. The latest news is a tweet from him about getting a USC offer and the Trojans being his dream school.

Cornerbacks and Safeties

  •  Tyson Campbell – CB; 5-Star; No. 3 CB and No. 23 Overall.Campbell is not visiting this weekend, choosing to visit Georgia instead.  Tide coaches have been confident. Other threats are Ohio State and Clemson.
  • Saivion Smith – CB; 4-Star; No, 1 CB and No. 2 Overall JUCO from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Alabama football appears to be in a strong position for Smith who will not transfer until May. Even so, he might shut down his recruiting soon.
  • Patrick Surtain – CB; 5-Star; No. 1 CB and No. 4 Overall. Surtain is a teammate of Campbell. He has 33 offers. LSU was once believed to be his leader. Currently, FSU, Clemson and Ohio State are factors competing with the Tide. Expect Surtain to have an Alabama football offer held for him until the end.
  • Nadab Joseph – CB; 4-Star; No. 21 CB and No. 212 Overall. At this point, Joseph looks like a two-way battle with Georgia. Alabama football is thought to be the clear leader. A decision could be coming from Joseph soon.
  • Kelvin Joseph – CB; 4-Star; No. 8 CB and No. 49 Overall. Joseph is from Baton Rouge. He de-committed from the Bengal Tigers earlier this month and quickly took an official visit to FSU. Alabama football is believed to be recruiting Joseph as a safety. It looks to be an FSU, Tide, Clemson and maybe LSU battle. It is unclear if the Tide has room for Joseph.

Defensive Line

  • Eyabi Anoma – DE; 4-Star; No. 3 WDE and No. 57 Overall. Alabama football is believed to be in a strong position for Anoma. Eyabi has made two earlier unofficial visits to Tuscaloosa. B1G Ten schools, Michigan Maryland and Penn State, along with Texas and Georgia are competing with the Tide. Anoma is not expected to make a decision until late in the cycle, but the Tide will hold a spot for him.
  • Brenton Cox – DE; 5-Star; No. 2 SDE and No. 19 Overall. Cox is a possible flip from Ohio State.
  • Andres Fox – DE; 3-Star; No. 21 WDE and No. 359 Overall. Auburn and LSU are the main competition for Fox. Most insiders think the Tide is his leader. If he delays a decision, there may not be room for Fox.

Auburn commit Coynis Miller and 5-Star, Clemson commit Xavier Thomas are also visiting this weekend. Neither player is expected to flip to the Tide.

Linebacker

  • Brandon Kaho – LB; 4-Star; No. 6 ILB and No. 137 Overall. Kaho is committed to BYU but the latest news is the Tide has made gained considerable ground for him to flip from the Cougars.

Next: Alabama - LSU Bammer Hammer Staff Predictions

The Bama Hammer team remains unblemished in game picks this season. Every game we pick the Tide. Even without any suspense, our score predictions and reasons are carefully considered. Check them out.

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